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Shark Safety at Cape Cod

Great White Sharks at Cape Cod

Cape Cod's waters are part of a natural and wild marine ecosystem with a rich diversity of sea life, including sharks. Seals are the major prey species for the great white shark, and as the seal population increases, the great white shark has become more numerous. There are confirmed reports of great white sharks feeding on seals close to shore. Spotter planes flying along the Outer Cape have also observed great white sharks near swimming beaches.

The national seashore is committed to continuing to explore ways to educate the public to help reduce risk when recreating in wild habitats. While it is rare for a great white shark to bite a human, since 2012, sharks have bitten people three times in the waters off Truro and Wellfleet. One bite in 2018 resulted in a fatality.

If you do not have the Sharktivity App, contact one of the ranger stations at: (508)255-2112 or (508)487-2100. Make sure to tell the ranger you would like to report a non-emergency shark sighting. If no one answers, please leave a message!

Learn about the ongoing study of the great white shark, and the basics of shark safety while visiting Cape Cod. Whether you plan to visit a national seashore beach or town beach, knowing how to balance enjoyment with the risks is important to having a fun and safe experience.